What Types of Injuries Can Active Release Techniques Treat?

Because the Active Release Technique is fairly young, many people have either ignored it or never heard of it. As a muscle massage and chiropractic technique, it can offer huge benefits to those that need it. Before dismissing it, you should learn more about it. You may find that it can help you in numerous ways.

What are Active Release Techniques (ART)?

ART is a patented technique designed to help with soft tissue problems including pain, hindrance of motion and damage. Soft tissue damage involves your ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

The main issue with soft tissue damage is that it can go unnoticed or people will accept it as a part of their day-to-day living. One of the most familiar forms of soft tissue damage is whiplash. In cases of whiplash, you may not notice the damage until much later. And when you do notice the pain, you may assume that it’s just “normal.”

ART treats these soft tissue issues to allow you freedom of movement, freedom from pain, and healed tissue that can function as it should.

Where Does Soft Tissue Damage Come From?

Soft tissue damage can occur any number of ways. An accident can cause such damage, but repetitive motion can cause it more frequently. When you perform the same motions over and over, you stress and eventually damage the soft tissue involved with that movement.

The results of overusing your muscles or other soft tissue are very common. Things like sprains and inflammation will occur. There are other small tears that fall under the term “micro-trauma.” All of these things can cause you pain, and also cause you to lose some of your mobility.

The main issue with soft tissue is the damage isn’t always readily apparent. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint. To make it worse, soft tissue damage will attempt to heal itself.

That means you can go through periods wear the pain is less, and times when it’s more. If you continue making the movements that caused the damage to begin with, it can become a never-ending cycle.

How Does ART Work?

ART is a movement-based technique. Your practitioner will place his or her hands over the problem area, and direct you towards very specific movements. They will feel for the behaviour of the soft tissue and guide your movements while maintaining tension. The practitioner will then use that analysis to guide the breakup of the scarred tissue and adhesions that scaring process creates. This will in turn allow your soft tissue to heal as it's supposed to.

Who Can Benefit from ART?

Many can benefit from ART. In fact, any active person can benefit, as activity is the main cause of muscle overuse. Generally, if you,

• Participate in sports and other athletic activities
• Have a chronic pain not related to hard tissue issues
• Have a mild but recurring pain that hinders your activities
• Suspect that you have soft tissue damage

Then you can benefit from ART.

When is ART Used?

ART becomes necessary when other treatment options fail or are no longer working. It is also necessary when other methods cannot pinpoint precisely where the soft tissue dame is in your body. Other massage and soft tissue techniques can have trouble finding exactly where your scarred soft tissue is. And while they are effective techniques, ART represents an adjunct to them.

How to Learn More about Active Release Techniques

Many facilities use ART. Active Release Techniques and sessions were developed to help you feel better. If ART interests you or you want to find out more, then call Chiro-Med today to request a consultation.